Deception (Deamhan Chronicles Book 3)
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The floor creaked as they walked. The room was old, weathered from time. Old wallpaper loosely clung to its surface and puddles of water blanketed the broken tile floor. Near the front, she saw Maris, her offspring, standing alone. She wore a long black dress, and her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She didn’t notice they had walked in until Anastasia stepped on a weak portion of the floor, making it moan under her weight.
“Thought you’d never see me again?”
She wondered exactly why Maris took refuge in a building that she’d seen in her dreams. “I told Ayden to take you as far away as he could.” She took a quick look around the area. “Where is he? What is this place?”
Maris walked over to Sia. “Ayden traveled to get support.” She held out her hand. “He should be returning soon.” The Adze Deamhan handed the amulet over to her.
“You know what she is, right?” Anastasia pointed at Sia. Her wounds pulsated, making her bend slightly over. Her eyesight faded for a brief moment. She needed to recharge, and soon.
“Yes, I know who she is.”
“She’s an Adze.” The name felt foreign on her lips when she spoke it. “A shadow walker! Impossible.”
“You traveled through the shadows to get here. How would you explain that?” Maris said. “She wants to stop Revelation as much as I do and she saved your life when I told her to let Ruby kill you.” She placed the necklace around her neck. “I came to a decision not too long ago.”
“What decision?”
“About Amenirdis.”
“You have no idea what she’s done to me and what she’s going to do to you if she finds out that you’re here.”
“I know what she’ll do to me. She has tried,” Maris replied. “Anzuna has already tried to take me, but Sia stopped her.”
“If Amenirdis wants you, she will eventually get you.”
“I know. That’s why I will seek her out first.” She shook her head. “I’m going to take the fight to her.” She rubbed her index finger over the amulet’s smooth surface. “I’m tired of being the victim. Now that I have my amulet again, I can protect myself.”
Anastasia watched Sia walk to the other side of the room. She sat with her back against the wall with her knees snuggled up to her chin. “This…” All of it was too hard for her believe. “You can’t trust her. Look at her! Her eyes are sewn shut. She can’t see yet she moves as if she’s never needed them. Her kind is dangerous to you.”
“That’s funny, coming from you.” Still mesmerized by her trinket, she smiled and cradled it to her chest. “You also said Ayden was dangerous to me, but he’s protected me more than you ever have.”
She glanced at the quieted Adze. “Where did you meet her?”
Maris chuckled. “Please. Don’t act like you care. You’ve never cared.”
“So what do you want from me? You had the Adze bring me here for a reason.”
She lifted her head. “We’re not bonded. I have no desire to be close to you. In fact, I loathe your presence.” She sighed. “But I have to overlook that. We all have the same desires. We don’t want Revelation to happen and we definitely don’t want the other Pure Ones to be freed from Limbo.”
“Amenirdis still wants you to serve her,” Sia interjected, jumping into the discussion. “You’re still important to her.”
Anastasia thought back to her dreams and the progress she and Nathan made the past few days. She wondered if her offspring knew the deep connection she had to Amenirdis. “I’m not more important to her than Maris. Taking the fight to her is suicide.”
“The blood inside me is the same blood inside her,” Maris said. “My matriarchal line descends directly from her. I know I’m special but not because everyone kept telling me that. She told me.”
“She came to you? How?”
“The same way she came to you. In dreams,” she replied. “Like I said, I want to bring the fight to her before she brings the fight to me…again. If I don’t, you can’t even begin to imagine what she’ll do to every Deamhan who stands in her way.”
Anastasia could imagine and she didn’t want to marinate on the thought.
“We need to band together to stop her, or die trying. You know as much about her as I do. You can help us put her back in Limbo where she belongs. If we follow the dark instincts inside us, and ignore the bigger picture, we’ll all succumb to her might and the power of the Dark Curse. This is why I have to trust you now, Anastasia. I have no choice but to.”
~end
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DECEPTION. DEAMHAN CHRONCILES #3
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DECEPTION. DEAMHAN CHRONCILES #3
GLOSSARY
Ancient Deamhan - a Deamhan who is over the age of 500. These types of Deamhan are rare since many of their kind don't survive long.
Adze - Part of the “Second Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan fed by using their hands and consuming the psychic energy of their victims like Lugat Deamhan. They were also called “shadow walkers” because of their ability to travel in the shadows. Adze were excellent assassins. They are now considered extinct.
Bond - A mental attraction usually associated with a Deamhan and those they've sired (offspring.) These bonds can also be broken and on rare occasions they can be created between Deamhan from different clans and/or Deamhan with no relation to one another.
The Brotherhood - Created in 516 A.D. by locals in peasant villages throughout Europe, their main goal was to study, research, and document Deamhan. As centuries passed, this group transformed from a secret society to a worldwide organization. There are two known positions for members: Researchers and Mercenaries. Researchers are assigned to specific Deamhan to gather intel from a distance while Mercenaries are trained to protect the organization. Other members can also hold high positions in the organization such as Region Leader and President of certain geographical areas in countries around the world. The American capital of their headquarters is located in San Diego, California. This location holds the most valuable historical artifacts relating to the Deamhan in the Archives, a secured location in the basement that is kept under heavy guard and protection.
Dark Curse - The Dark Curse is a tablet that holds the written spells used to create Deamhan and Limbo. The original tablet was lost to time, only to resurface years later, broken into two pieces. Currently one piece is held in The Brotherhood archives and the other is still missing.
Deamhan - Creatures created by a Kashshapu in the city of Ur over four thousand years ago to protect the humans in the city against vampire attacks. They fed on the psychic energy of their victims, vampires included. The first Deamhan were immune to sunlight and had no weaknesses. Eventually they turned on those they were created to protect and the Kashshapu cursed them with the same weaknesses as vampires (sunlight, wood.) However a Deamhan can enter a human home without an invitation and they can read the thoughts of humans as well as their own.
The Dictum - Created in the mid-1500s by well-known and powerful Deamhan during that time, these ten rules were written to protect their kind. After witnessing the persecution of witches all over Europe, these four Deamhan (Gennadios -Ramanga, Marjolaine -Lamia, Nicias- Metusba and Lucius-Lugat) created these commandments to establish rule during a time when Deamhan were without rules and punishments.
Dorvo Coven of Vampires - Vampires who claim to be descended from Dorvo, a practitioner of dark magic who assisted the Kashshapu in creating Deamhan.
Ekimmu - Part of the “Second Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan fed by draining the life force from their victims just like Lamia Deamhan. They’re also excelled in the dark arts. They are now considered extinct.
Empusa - Part of the “Second Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan fed on draining the life force from their victim’s mouth like Metusba Deamhan. They were also excellent fighters. They are considered extinct.
Estrie - Part of the “Second Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, thes
e Deamhan gorged on the psychic energy in the blood of their victims like Ramanga Deamhan. Known to be ruthless, maniacal, and devious, they had yellow, piercing eyes, elongated claws, and the sharpest canines. Their blood was also considered toxic, ensuring them a spot on the top of the Deamhan food chain. They are considered extinct.
First Four - Created by the Kashshapu in order to protect the citizens of Ur from vampire attacks. Ramanga, Lamia, Metusba, and Lugat were created without any weaknesses. They had the ability to feed on vampires. Eventually they turned on the humans they were created to protect. In response, the Kashshapu created the Second Four.
Gathering - A celebration held by Deamhan.
Hibernation - A period in which a Deamhan will fall into a deep sleep for years at a time during which their skin will crack and age like a statue. Ancient Deamhan can also afflict this upon another younger than themselves, subduing them into a forced Hibernation.
Kashshapu - A male magician and an ancestor of Maris who lived in the ancient city of Ur. He is responsible for the creation of Deamhan through dark magic.
Lamia - Part of the “First Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, Lamia are known to be just as violent as the Ramanga Deamhan. They feed by draining the psychic energy from their victim’s mouths, sucking them into dry husks. Lamia are also conceited and prefer the hunt rather than the kill.
Limbo - Limbo, a dark and never-ending space void of time. Created with dark magic by a Kashshapu as a last resort to tame the wild Deamhan in the city of Sumer. The very first eight Deamhan are still trapped in this void.
Lugat - Part of the “First Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan feed on the psychic imprints of their victims. Like the Metusba, they don’t need to kill their victims to live. Often, Lugat Deamhan prefer to move freely in the human world and enjoy human company.
Metusba - Part of the “First Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan are the less violent of all Deamhan. They feed off the psychic aura of their victims around them. They don’t have to kill their victims to survive.
Minion - a human subservient to Deamhan in exchange for protection or the chance to be sired.
Offspring - A word used by Deamhan to refer to a human they have sired.
Pure Ones - The very first eight Deamhan ever created. These Deamhan have red glowing eyes and currently reside in Limbo.
Ramanga - Part of the “First Four” of Deamhan created by the Kashshapu, these Deamhan are the most violent of their kind. They feed off the psychic energy in human blood. They are the only Deamhan (besides Estrie) to have retractable and sharp canine teeth.
Revelation - A series of steps written on the Dark Curse Tablet, which will end in rebirth of Deamhan by releasing the Pure Ones, abolishing Ancient status in Deamhan world, and restoring Pure Ones in their rightful place as Kings and Queens in the Deamhan world.
Sanctuary - A location where many Deamhan live. The majority of sanctuaries only contain one clan of Deamhan, but a few contain a various ranges of clans nesting together.
Second Four - Created by the Kashshapu after the First Four Deamhan turned on the humans they were created to protect. Estrie, Empusa, Ekimmu, and Adze Deamhan had the ability to feed not only on vampires and humans like the First Four, but also on all Deamhan. Those who were part of the First Four hunted them to extinction throughout the ages.
Vampires - creatures who live off the blood of humans and animals. Sanguine in nature, these vampires claim no direct link nor allegiance to Dorvo. They've existed long before Deamhan. The Kashshapu created Deamhan in order to protect the citizens of Ur from them
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DECEPTION. DEAMHAN CHRONCILES #3
Thank you for taking time to read my novel.
If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends and/or posting a short review.
~Isaiyan
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DECEPTION. DEAMHAN CHRONCILES #3
coming soon
HALLIE. A TIT FOR A TAT
DEAMHAN TALES #3
DIVINATION
deamhan chronicles #4
deamhan.com
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DECEPTION. DEAMHAN CHRONCILES #3
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Isaiyan Morrison was born and raised in Minnesota. She moved to San Diego, California while in the Navy. After serving four years of active duty, she moved to Los Angeles. After a few years, she moved back to Minnesota where she started to pursue her dream to be an author. Deception is the third novel that takes place in the Deamhan Universe. She now resides in Texas with her two cats and three pit bull dogs.
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